Weed Garden
Controlling Weeds in your Garden
Any plant growing where it is not wanted can be defined as a weed. Some weeds can be as decorative as cultivated flowers but weeds are vigorous and competitive and most gardens provide ideal conditions for them to flourish. Gardens can become ruined by weeds if proper control is not exercised.
Weeds are classified as either annual or perennial. Annuals reproduce from seed. It is important to kill annual weeds before they seed as they can produce vast numbers of seeds which can remain in soil for years to come.
The other type of weed is perennial. These are also seeds but also have well developed root systems which spread rapidly underground and it is this which makes them more difficult to eradicate. You must remove all the roots – even a small part left behind can regenerate in the soil.
Weed Control Methods
Hoeing
The hoe is a very useful tool for dealing with annual weeds before they seed, although the hoe is less successful on perennials with deep, established roots. For best results, hoe on a dry day where the weeds will quickly dry out and die. Ensure the hoe is kept sharp for maximum impact.
Digging and forking
You can easily clear annual weeds with a spade simply by burying them at a depth from which they cannot surface. However in lighter or stony soil this will not be so effective. In this case the area should be forked over.
Weedkillers
These are great timesavers in the garden, although some gardeners are against the use of chemicals. Garden weedkillers though are safe to humans and pets if used as directed. Some weedkillers will kill everything, while others are selective and will kill only certain sorts of plant. You must therefore make sure that the weedkiller you purchase is suitable for the area it is to be used.
Mulching
Covering an area with straw, chipped bark, grass clippings for even black polythene sheeting is a simple and effective method of weed control, though not always successful with some stronger perennials. Don’t worry too much about weeds growing underneath the mulch layer – the lack of light will soon kill off any seedlings.
Mowing and cutting
Mowing cutting and hand weeding may provide a “quick fix” but in most cases roots are left behind and the weed will quickly grow back.
Weed situations
Lawns
Weeds are most visible on a lawn and can really stand out on the flat, uniform area. The best option here is a selective weedkiller designed specifically for lawns. This is best applied on a dry day when the lawn is growing at its fastest usually late spring or early summer.
Flower beds
The hoe is the best tool for controlling weeds in these locations, although in larger or complex areas, careful use of a weedkiller chemical will be better.
Fruit and vegetable plots
Mulching is a good method in these situations, and can be easily applied.
Paths and patios
On hard surfaces like these, the absence of any garden plants makes chemical weedkiller the best option and can be easily applied without worry. You should however look out for any trees or shrubs that may have roots underneath the hard area, and take care on sloping areas that the liquid weedkiller may run down.
About the Author
John Glover writes for the garden arch website, the no.1 comparison site for wooden garden arches and metal garden arches
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